“Pardon me – I’m wearing my glasses so I can’t see.”
Yes, I Just said that to someone at work. My vision is terrible so I usually rely on my extended-wear contacts to navigate the otherwise obstacle course that is life. Since I can wear my contacts while I sleep, I can see as soon as I open my eyes. Of course I do have to take them out periodically to replace them with new contacts. During this interval, I wear my glasses for a few days (or as long as I can stand it) to give my eyes a breather.
My glasses are the right prescription. I’ve had them checked and re-checked. But everything requires so much more concentration with my glasses. My depth perception changes and I can’t seem to process motion and details as easily. And of course, glasses provide limited peripheral vision. [You’d be surprised how often you glance at your fork or spoon to guide it to your mouth – even though your mouth has been in the same place your entire life!]
Anyway, this morning I ended up leaving the gym early because my vision couldn’t keep up with my bouncing glasses during jumping jacks, etc. And then at work I found myself bumping into walls and spilling coffee (twice!) before 9am!
As I wiped up the mess for the second time, I noticed my “gratitude jar” that a friend gave me to keep at work. It made me reflect on what I could be grateful for about my vision instead of being irritated. I started thinking about how different my life might be if glasses and contacts didn’t even exist, or if I didn’t have access to them. I’m not saying I couldn’t have a full life but it would certainly be different.
How would I mountain bike? How would it change my working out? How would it affect my employment? What about getting around, my relationships, my independence?
Again, I could still have an amazing, full life even if I didn’t have vision. It would just be different. But my little thought process made me realize that I take much for granted in my current life. What a great prompt to open my eyes to the fullness of my life! To view “unpleasantries” as merely peripheral – present but not game-(or attitude?)-changers!
Today I am especially thankful for my glasses and for spilling my coffee twice. Otherwise I might have missed out on seeing that I am blessed indeed.
[By the way, I looked up blind mountain biking and blind personal training and guess what?? These things have already been done!]
